This is NOT an official blog site for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints. The ideas that are shared here do not necessarily represent the policies or procedures of the church. It is a format for stake and ward communications specialists to receive training, share ideas and make recommendations. Communication should be of an appropiate nature. It is hopeful that in the very near future, an official site will be made available on the church's website.

Wednesday, September 19, 2007

Hello I am Brien Cushman of the Calgary Alberta Stake in Canada. I have just recently been called as the “Stake Emergency Communications Specialist.

I have also recently obtained my ham licence (VE6BLC). So all this is very new for me. I have had a limited back ground in Risk Management and have developed some recommendations from time to time for businesses and was part of an emergency response planning team more than 15 years ago. Much has changed but some things have not. Communication is vital regardless of the circumstances we find ourselves in.

I’d like to get my hands on a job description for this calling but all I have been able to obtain is a couple of paragraph from the church web sit. One of which states that wards and stakes should not purchase radio equipment but rather search out local radio operators. In contrast to this direction I have been given eight CB radios complete with magnetic antennas and power supplies. These may have limitations but the geographic area of our stake is small enough that these radios could be useful tools if an emergency occurred. Does anyone have any suggestions on how to make effective use of this equipment?